Improvement in apparatus for leaching tan-bark



R. R. ANDREWS. Apparatus for Leaching Tan-Bark.

No. 218,212. Patented Aug. 5,1879.

N. PETERS, PHOTD-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. 0 c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RANSOM R. ANDREWS, OF SMETHPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR L E ACHI'NG TAN-BARK..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,212, dated August5, 1879; application filed May 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANSOM R. ANnREws, of Smethport, in the county ofMcKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Leaching Tan-Bark, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a leaching apparatus which is especiallydesigned for leaching tan-bark.

The object of my invention is to produce a leaching apparatus in whichthe soluble constituents of the bark may be rapidly and completelyextracted from the latter, and in which the spent bark is easilydischarged from the tub or vessel in which the operation of leaching isperformed, thereby rendering the tub very efficient and convenient inits operation.

My invention consists of the particular construction and arrangement ofthe tub and its concomitant parts, as will be hereinafter fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of myimproved leaching apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof at rightangles to Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in both figures.

A represents the leaching-tub, constructed in the form of a cylindricalvessel, of any suitable material, made open at the top, and providedwith a tight bottom, I), having a central opening, I).

As shown in the drawings, the tub Ais constructed of staves heldtogether by hoops c, and tied. together longitudinally by rods (1,having their ends connected to chine-rings E, which overlap the top andbottom ends of the staves. ff are trunnions secured to opposite sides ofthe tub A, above its center of gravity, so as to cause the tub Ato besuspended with its tight bottom downward, but at the same time permitthe tub to be inverted with a slight effort.

9 are the trunnion-bearings, attached to the upright posts of thestationary frame H,for the reception of the trunnions f. t is aperforated plate or diaphragm arranged in the tub A at a short distanceabove the tight bottom I), and 7c is a vertical pipe arranged centrallyin the tub A, and extending from the' perforated plate ito within ashort distance from the top of the tub, where it is provided with asuitable sprinkler, 7c. The lower end of the pipe It opens into thespace between the bottom I) and perforated plate 1', directly above theopening 1). The diaphragm iis arranged removably in the tub A, andprovided on its under side with short post-s or legs j, which supportthe diaphragm at the proper distance above the tight bottom I).

lis a steam-pipe, and m a water-pipe, both connected to the upper end ofa vertical pipe, 11., which is secured to the frame H, and extendsdownwardly below the plane of the bottom of the tub A, where it isprovided with a horizontal branch pipe, 0, which latter terminatesunderneath the central opening, b, in the bottom b of the tub. p is ashort pipe provided with a screw-thread, and secured to the under sideof the bottom I), and q is a union-nut arranged upon the upturnedflanged end of the horizontal branch pipe 0 for tightly connecting thelatter to the short pipe 12, as shown in Fig. 1. r r are stop-cocksarranged, respectively, in the steam and water pipes l m, and s is astop-cock arranged in the vertical pipe n below the horizontal pipe 0.

The parts being connected as shown in Fig. 1, the ground tan-bark isplaced within the tub A,upon the perforated bottom '6, to within abouttwelve inches of the top of the tub. The stop-cocks r and 8 beingclosed, the cock 1* is opened and the tub A filled with water, so thatthe water-level stands about ten inches above the tan-bark. Thewater-cock r is now closed and the cock '7' opened, whereby steam isadmitted to the tub through the pipes 12 and 0. The steam, in enteringthe tub underneath the pipe it, forces the water up through the latterand out through the sprinkler k, whence it falls in a shower or sprayupon the tan-bark, and percolates through the same back into the spacebelow the perforated plate i. In this manner a circulation of water iskept up through the tub, and the soluble constituents of the tan-barkcontained therein are rapidly and completely extracted. The tan-barkgradually becomes compressed and packed upon the perforated plate t bythe downward pressure of the water-current, and the coloring substancesand resinous matter are constantly drawn away from the bottom anddelivered at the top of the tan-bark, where they remain. This operationof leaching is carried on until the tan-bark is exhausted, when the cock1' is closed and the cock 8 opened, whereby the liquor is dischargedfrom the bottom of the tub through the pipes o 12 into any suitablereceptacle. The coupling-nut q is then unscrewed and the tub inverted onits trunnions, when the spent bark is readily discharged from the tub.By withdrawing the perforated platei and pipe k, all of the spent barkis readily dislodged and the tub left unobstructed, so that it can bethoroughly cleaned.

My improved leaching apparatus is very rapid and thorough in itsoperation, and at the same time very simple of construction, so that itcan be constructed at comparatively small expense.

I claim as my invention- An apparatus for leaching tan-hark, consistingofa tub, A, made open at the top and hung on trunniousf, a stationaryframe, H, having trunnion-bearings g, a perforated diaphragm, 2', andcentral sprinkler pipe, k, arranged within the tub, and the steam andwater pipes l m n o, and removable couplingp q, the whole beingconstructed and arranged as described, whereby a circulation of theliquid through the tub may be maintained until the operation of leachingis completed, when the liquor may be drawn 0d and the tub disconnectedand inverted for discharging the spent bark, substantially as set forth.

R. R. ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

W. F. SPECHT, DEMONT HASKILL.

